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"'Tentative' should be a horse's name in the Belmont Stakes field after the tumultuous racing season we've witnessed in 2023", our friends at BetOnline quipped.
"But, alas, our bookmakers keep doing their jobs as there is already an early odds board for the Belmont Stakes."
Forte should be running in this year's Belmont Stakes. Books were quick to list him as the 3-1 favorite.
Forte had been scratched the morning of the Kentucky Derby due to a foot bruise. He had been the favorite coming into that race.
“He looked very good in this work and everything is pointing in the direction of the Belmont,” trainer Todd Pletcher said this week.
“I think we have a chance to have him at his best,” said Pletcher, a four-time Belmont Stakes winner. “He's got a high degree of natural fitness. This morning he did everything very effortlessly and galloped out nicely and wasn't blowing at all. He pulled up and came back to the barn. And we still have time for two more good, solid works which I think would have him ready to go. It will be 10 weeks between races and it's a mile-and-a-half, but he gives me the impression, despite missing that little bit of training, that he's retained his fitness very well.”
Derby winner Mage was set to bypass the Belmont Stakes.
Here are all your Belmont Stakes odds:
2023 Belmont Stakes
Forte 3/1
Tapit Trice 7/2
Angel of Empire 9/2
National Treasure 7/1
Arabian Lion 8/1
Arcangelo 14/1
Raise Cain 14/1
Hit Show 16/1
Kingsbarns 20/1
Red Route One 20/1
Reincarnate 25/1
Sun Thunder 33/1
Prove Worthy 50/1
- Ean Lamb, Gambling911.com
